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Originally Posted by SwizzyMan
How about the cans? should I replace em' even though the set powers on without any issues?
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If you read that article, you'll see this photo showing what was inside a couple of my electrolytic cans:
The two on the left might have worked. At least, the electrolytic paste inside them might still be somewhat operational. The one on the right is totally dried up, crumbling, and shrunken -- like a fossil. The insides are garbage. If I had powered up the set without monitoring the current draw, etc., and that cap was shorted, I might have burned up the power transformer.
It's risky to leave them in place without at least doing some testing. For some people, testing means turning the TV on and holding your hand on the can to see if it burns you. A slightly more scientific way is to monitor the amount of current drawn by the TV and pull the plug if it spikes above what is normal. You can also disconnect those capacitors and test them individually under the right voltage, or even try to "re-form" them by gradually increasing the voltage and carefully monitoring current. In my experience, even electrolytics that appear to "re-form" after a while, may not be reliable for indefinite service. They may fail at any time without warning, and possibly cause damage when they go bye-bye.
I often replace all of the electrolytics because then I am sure they'll be reliable, and I don't have to sit around wondering if my TV is going to go up in smoke. Other people like to re-use every old electrolytic if humanly possible; they understand the risk and don't mind taking it.
Only you can decide how much risk you can tolerate and how you intend to use the TV. If it's going to be a "daily driver," you may want to err on the side of caution. If it's something you'll only play for a few minutes a couple of times a year, to show off to guests, maybe leaving the old electrolytics alone isn't such a big deal.
Phil Nelson